Charanjit Bakshi
Charanjit Bakshi, Technical Programme Manager, headshot

About

I take on the work nobody scoped, and make the numbers show up.

I started in Ericsson's test labs in 2009 and have spent sixteen years in telecom networks since: transmission, RAN and core, first as an engineer, then leading programmes. The pattern I'm proudest of is taking work handed over as pure execution, like a circuit migration or a compliance mandate, and finding the commercial or product problem inside it.

I'm now moving toward product management and applying for PM and TPM roles in the UK. Outside work: football, travel, and reading.

Get in touch

Email
charanjit.b.bakshi@gmail.com
LinkedIn
charanjit-bakshi
Based in
Reading, UK. Open to UK roles, and US-headquartered companies that can hire in the UK.
CV
Product CV (PDF)Programme CV (PDF)

Experience

  1. 2019–now

    Technical Programme Manager

    Vodafone, Newbury (via Interactive Management Solutions)

    • Ran the third-party link decommissioning programme end to end, from audit to business case to delivery, removing over £6M of recurring opex with a team of nine.
    • Led removal of high-risk-vendor (Huawei) equipment from the core network under UK government direction, rerouting traffic onto Vodafone’s own Ciena network.
    • Executed core upgrades across 700+ devices and delivered transmission work across 500+ sites with BT, Virgin Media, Lumen and Cisco; authored four HLD/LLD designs through to approved proof-of-concept.
    • Configured multi-vendor transport platforms including Huawei DWDM, Infinera (Tellabs) 8600 and Alcatel-Lucent (ALU), using the Infinera Network Manager (INM) for provisioning.
  2. 2017–2019

    Manager

    Tata Communications Transformation Services, Pune

    • Designed connectivity solutions from access through to core network for a tier-1 operator.
    • Ran end-to-end Infinera (Tellabs) migrations: site audits, fibre-delivery scheduling and deployment planning.
    • Supported the transition off BT and Virgin Media leased fibre onto alternative capacity, protecting live services through cutover.
  3. 2012–2017

    Technical Solution Leader

    Capgemini (formerly Aricent), Gurugram & Newbury

    • Provided global technical support on the Infinera (Tellabs) 8600 series to telecom operators worldwide, as part of Capgemini’s Technical Assistance Centre, including a stint supporting the Finland TAC alongside the Vodafone UK team.
    • Worked across multi-vendor equipment including Huawei, Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent and NSN (Nokia Siemens Networks) as part of the wider transmission network.
    • Team lead for Vodafone UK’s 2G/3G ring-migration programme (2013–14) and the Move/Add/Change workstream (2014–15).
    • Provisioned TDM, Abis, Iub, IPsec, PTP and QoS services on the Vodafone UK network using the CRAMER planning tool; RAN and transmission support across 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE.
  4. 2009–2012

    Test Engineer

    Ericsson, Jaipur

    • Tested core switching nodes (BSC, MSC-MGW, HLR, GMSC, MSC-server) and supported hardware and node preparation for installation.
    • Contributed to training for new 3G radio products (R-RUSRBS-3G) delivered in Sweden and China.

Education & credentials

  • Leading Strategic Projects and Programmes, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, 2021 (Grade A)
  • PGDBA, Operations Management, Symbiosis, 2010–2012
  • BTech, Electronics & Communication Engineering, SVIET Chandigarh, 2005–2009 (university rank holder)
  • PRINCE2 Agile® Foundation & Practitioner
  • Certified SAFe® Practitioner
  • Cisco CCNA, Routing and Switching
  • SC security clearance, active